Speech #840191320

President. for the Congress to face the issue frankly and to admit that the McCarranWalter Act is a cruel. unreasonable. and repressive law. and that action must be taken to change it substantially. I do not expect to continue to vote for special bills for sheepherders. while capmakers. watchmakers. carpenters. doctors. scientists. and metal workersto name at random just a few types of workerscontinue to be barred from the United States by the operation of the McCarranWalter Act. Some of the very sponsors of these sheepherder bills are the most vociferous in defending the national origins quota. system. Let them admit that these special sheepherder bills violate the socalled principle of the national origins quota system. Let them admit that the national origins quota system is a shame and a scandal upon the fair name of the United States. The other day the distinguished senior Senator from Utah . former chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. who was himself a strong supporter of the last sheepherders bill the Senate passed. declared that this sheepherders bill could not be accepted as constituting an immigration program for 1956. If any immigration legislation is to be passed. it should be substantial immigration legislation which will grant relief to the sheepraising industry. to other industries. and to mothers. fathers. brothers. sisters. uncles. and friends of aliens who want to come to the United States but who are now barred because of the quota system and the other restrictions in the McCarranWalter Act. Let me call attention again to S. 1206. the bill which I and 12 other Senators have introduced in this Congress. which would revise our immigration and citizenship laws in a constructive and positive manner. and remove those discriminatory features which plague us today. There are also pending before the Senate four bills introduced by the Senator from Utah . representing the recommendations of the administration. I do not think that these bills go far enough. I am glad. however. to recognize them as constituting. for the most part. steps in the right direction. The President of the United States has recommended the enactment of substantial immigration legislation at this session. The majority leader of the Senate has urged that substantial immigration legislation be enacted at this session. There is no partisanship involved. No party stands to win selfish credit from the enactment of immigration legislation. but both parties will deservedly be blamed if no substantial immigration legislation is enacted at this session of Congress. And what is much more important. America will be the loser. Suitable immigration legislation should be. and must be. enacted by this Congress. I hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee will yet consider and report my bill. S. 1206.